Rt. 33 work: Long road ahead

PORTSMOUTH — A $6 million project to upgrade approximately one mile of roadway along Route 33 is under way and is scheduled to end in November 2009.

Adam Leech

PORTSMOUTH — A $6 million project to upgrade approximately one mile of roadway along Route 33 is under way and is scheduled to end in November 2009.

Relocation of utility poles has already begun along the stretch between the Griffin Road area and Peverly Hill Road — with a majority of the pavement and bridge work expected to start in July or August.

The main purpose of the project, according to Portsmouth Department of Public Works Director Steve Parkinson, is to replace the B&M Railroad bridge, which is on the state Department of Transportation "red list." A variety of other safety improvements will also be made, including realigning and adding traffic signals to the intersection with Islington Street, closing off Plains Avenue and implementing traffic-calming measures.

"We need to replace the bridge and ... we need to slow the traffic down in this corridor," said Parkinson. "Safety is one of the concerns."

The project is 90 percent funded through federal and state grants. Ten percent, or $600,000 local dollars, will be bonded. The roadwork will be put out to bid soon, according to Parkinson.

Parkinson said traffic flow may be limited to one lane during the day and delays in the stretch of roadway will be a regular occurrence throughout this summer and next.

"The best thing is for people to try and avoid (the) area when it starts, if possible," said Parkinson.

When the project is complete, Islington Street will meet Route 33 at a 90-degree angle, which will not affect the baseball field but will eliminate some parking.

The B&M Railroad bridge is a deteriorating concrete deck with steel beams, parts of which are falling off, Parkinson said. The replacement bridge will also be steel and concrete.

The project also includes adding a sidewalk along Griffin Road to the park and ride lot with a crosswalk at the park and ride, as well as adding a sidewalk on the easterly side of Islington Street from Route 33 to Plains Avenue.

Drainage upgrades are also part of the project. Aesthetic improvements and roadway medians are also included.

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